Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesBlake Wheeler on the Winnipeg Jets' home ice at the MTS Centre last month.

There will be a lively discussion when the NHL’s board of governors meets in Pebble Beach, Calif., on Monday to determine how the league’s 30 teams will be realigned for next season. Realignment is necessary because the Atlanta Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets and no longer fit geographically in the Southeast Division or the Eastern Conference. The easiest solution is to put Winnipeg in the Western Conference and move either the Columbus Blue Jackets or Detroit Red Wings to the East.

“That sounds like the simplest solution, but I don’t know if that would be the right thing,” said Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello, who’ll be involved in the talks. “I’d like to see us stay with six divisions, the way it is, but you’ve got to do what is best for the league.”

Prominent in the discussions will be the proposal of a four-division alignment that could look like this:

“I’d have to see the alignment,” Lamoriello said of four divisions. “You play the whole season for the playoffs. You have to make it equally balanced for each club. No matter what scenario, somebody doesn’t like it.”

The Red Wings would love to come to the Eastern Conference and the Stars would like to get away from playing so many games in the Pacific time zone.

Might expansion be put on the table? The league says no. Another issue is whether the Coyotes will remain in Phoenix.

“I think the Devils are in a very comfortable position because there’s not much you can do with our location,” Lamoriello said. “Whatever is decided, I don’t think it will be bad for us.”

Chris Seward/MCTCarolina Hurricanes coaches John MacLean (left) watch their team on the ice this past week.

CAPTAIN KIRK AND JOHNNY MAC
They were the foundation of a Devils franchise trying to escape the shadows cast by the Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Islanders back in the mid-1980s.

Now, they are together again seeking to turn around the floundering Carolina Hurricanes. Kirk Muller replaced Paul Maurice as ’Canes coach Monday and three days later brought longtime pal John MacLean in as an assistant coach.

“Everything happened real quick here. We had to start putting the pieces together,” Muller said. ”We’ve been longtime friends and teammates, but I wanted to come in here first and see what the options were. When I had the opportunity to add John, and he was available, I thought it was great.

“Johnny and I had talked about this for a while now, but it’s not because we’re friends that I wanted him here. It’s because of the way he sees the game and that it’s the right fit. He comes from New Jersey, where he was a great two-way winger and they’ve always had a great defensive system there. I think that’s where he can help us.”

The Devils drafted MacLean sixth overall in 1983. They took Muller second overall (behind Mario Lemieux) the next year and the two were Devils teammates from 1984-85 to 1990-91. MacLean stayed another 6½ seasons after Muller was traded to Montreal with Roland Melanson for Stéphane Richer and Tom Chorske.

“It’s no secret Kirk and I are friends and stay in close contact,” MacLean said. “You talk at different times. I’m happy to get the opportunity. I just want to give Kirk some support and help turn this thing around. It’s going to take some time but I think Kirk will do a good job.“

There is a third Devils’ connection: Hurricanes assistant coach Dave Lewis was retained. The former defenseman played for the Devils with both Muller and MacLean in ’84-85 and ’85-86.

“The real reason I came here is so I could room with Lewie again,” MacLean said jokingly.

Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is counting on some chemistry behind the bench.

“(MacLean) fits the mold of the coaches we already have,” Rutherford said. “In his playing career he offered a lot of leadership and character.

He has great coaching experience. He was a real good assistant coach for the Devils and then a head coach, and he knows Kirk.”

JOE SACCO TO GO?
With NHL coaches losing and obtaining jobs at a stunning rate, rumors continue that the Colorado Avalanche may axe Joe Sacco right after Christmas.

There has been tension between players in the Avs dressing room. In a recent punishment skate, Erik Johnson and Peter Mueller both suffered groin pulls, although that shouldn’t be pinned on Sacco. Patrick Roy, who was offered the coaching job three years ago and turned it down, won’t be in the running. The leading candidate is Sylvain Lefebvre.

GENEROUS GIFT
Erik Cole paid for Montreal Canadiens teammate Louis Leblanc’s parents to fly from Montreal to Anaheim to watch their son make his NHL debut. Leblanc, a first-round draft pick in 2009, was called up from Hamilton (AHL) after Max Pacioretty was suspended three games for his hit on tje Pittsburgh Penguins Kris Letang.

NOT A GREAT WEEK
Wayne Gretzky’s name was in the news several times last week. First, he was mentioned with the possible sale of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Great. Then it was his daughter Paulina who tweeted racy photos of herself in lingerie and bikinis. Not so Great. Gretzky and wife Janet Jones reportedly shut down the Twitter account of Paulina, who turns 23 this month, soon after the photos appeared.

PADDING THE KID
Having seen the efforts the Devils made to keep Ilya Kovalchuk, it is no surprise some may have viewed Sidney Crosby’s recent real estate deal as a potential salary cap circumvention issue. Crosby purchased a house in the Pittsburgh-area town of Sewickley Heights, Pa., almost two years ago and was renovating it while he lived with Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. In the meantime, Crosby bought another home in Sewickley, which he had torn down in order to build on the property. Crosby sold the first house to Pens president David Morehouse for $2.4 million and informed the league, which was apparently okay with the fact the player made a modest profit of $100,000. Lemieux may have encouraged the league since he’s had Crosby living with him on and off since Sid the Kid was an 18-year-old rookie.

STYLE GUIDE
Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner played for new Capitals coach Dale Hunter in London (OHL) and thinks he’s ready to coach in the NHL. But he suggests Hunter may need fashion help.

“My dad went to a Halloween party once dressed as Dale,” Sam recalled. “It wasn’t hard to recreate Dale. He just went into Dale’s office and got his suit.”

LIGHTNING STRIKE
Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman had a triumphant week. He was in Detroit for the Lightning’s first game in that city since he became Tampa Bay GM and was honored with a video tribute and standing ovation.

Yzerman also signed defenseman Victor Hedman to a very reasonable five-year, $20 million contract extension. Hedman’s contract (with a $4 million cap hit) is for $1.5 million next season; $3 million in 2013-14; $4 million in 2014-15; $6 million in 2015-16; and $4 million in 2016-17. It included a $1.5 million signing bonus but doesn’t have a no-trade or no-movement clause.

Steven Stamkos was already locked up through 2015-16 with a five-year, $37.5 million deal. “It’s great for our organization,” Yzerman said. “It’s important that there’s stability in our organization and we’ve got our young players. Their best years are ahead of them. As long as they continue with the work ethic they have and the drive that they have, they’re just going to continue to get better and better.”

A NATURAL FIT
After he played center so far this season, the Chicago Blackhawks moved Patrick Kane back to right wing. He was reunited with Jonathan Toews.

“Center worked for a little bit,” Kane told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s one of those things where it’s still an option down the road. Sometimes you just have to keep things exciting and switch it up.

A CHANGE IN OTTAWA
Only the Devils (174) scored fewer goals than the Senators (192) last season, so Ottawa’s offensive approach this season has been a surprise. The Sens rank fifth in the league in scoring and have 15 players with at least two goals.

TEAM VERSUS TV
Having been criticized by Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Pierre McGuire for the defensive style they played in a Nov. 9 game against the Flyers, the Lightning are still angry with Versus. The club granted interviews for a Versus telecast last Monday, but Yzerman revealed where the team stands when he said: “We reserve the right that we may not cooperate in the future.”

CALLING IT A CAREER
Mike Grier, who played 14 seasons with Edmonton, Washington, Buffalo and San Jose, retired last week at the age of 36.

SURGERY FOR RUPP
Rangers forward Mike Rupp underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on Nov. 9 and is skating again.

ON TO THE NEXT ONE
Bruce Boudreau was fired by the Washington Capitals on Monday and hired by the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. At less than three days, it’s the shortest midseason head coaching search in NHL history.